Chronicles Chronicles of My Life: An American in the Heart of Japan [Hardcover]

Donald Keene (Author), Akira Yamaguchi (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 12, 2008

"I sometimes think that if, as the result of an accident, I were to lose my knowledge of Japanese, there would not be much left for me. Japanese, which at first had no connection with my ancestors, my literary tastes, or my awareness of myself as a person, has become the central element of my life."

In this eloquent and wholly absorbing memoir, the renowned scholar Donald Keene shares more than half a century of his extraordinary adventures as a student of Japan. Keene begins with an account of his bittersweet childhood in New York; then he describes his initial encounters with Asia and Europe and the way in which World War II complicated that experience. He captures the sights, scents, and sounds of Japan as they first enveloped him, and talks of the unique travels and well-known intellectuals who later shaped the contours of his academic career.

Keene traces the movement of his passions with delicacy and subtlety, deftly weaving his love for Japan into a larger narrative about identity and home and the circumstances that led a Westerner to find solace in a country on the opposite side of the world. Chronicles of My Life is not only a fascinating tale of two cultures colliding, but also a thrilling account of the emotions and experiences that connect us all, regardless of our individual origins.

(2/7/08)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Lovingly illustrated by the artist Akira Yamaguchi, the book limns a life inseparably linked to its dominant passion.... The history is fascinating, and the literary life Keene has doggedly carved out of it, remarkable.

(Andrew Monahan TIME, Asia Edition Jan/Feb 2009)

Keene's book soars, largely because of his intriguing, highly personal account of the literary milieu of Japan, particularly its drama, whether on stage or screen.... [An] engaging and eloquent memoir.

(Robert Elegant Times Literary Supplement )

Gratifying... picaresque.... The pathos at the heart of Keene's lovely and gracious memoir, and perhaps of his extraordinary life, emanates from this very human limitation: we cannot live in and love two worlds at once.

(Roland Kelts Bookforum )

Few memoirs have the concision, modesty, and charm that mark this late-life work by Donald Keene, America's most renowned scholar and interpreter of Japan.

(Foreword )

[Keene] shares and teaches, speaking in vignettes by turns wistful, forceful, and lyrical.... This slim volume [is] a pleasure to read.

(Erik R. Lofgren World Literature Today )

Review

As arguably the most important person in the creation and establishment of Japan studies in the West, Donald Keene—as well as the work he has produced and the work he has inspired—is certainly deserving of a book-length autobiography. Chronicles of My Life presents a clear view of the arc of an important scholar's life, his involvement with Japan, and the situations that led him to and the events that led him through its study.

(Stephen Miller, assistant professor of Japanese, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Summer 2008)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (May 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231144407
• ISBN-13: 978-0231144407
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #780,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Long Journey of Japanese Studies, June 21, 2008

By 

Jason T. Fetters "Horror Fanboy & Japanologist" (Tampa, FL The Sunshine State) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Chronicles Chronicles of My Life: An American in the Heart of Japan (Hardcover)

Donald Keene's Chronicles is an enjoyable read. At first I hestitated to buy it because I had already read On Familiar Terms (now out of print) and I didn't want a rehash. I was wrong. Keene took the basic structure of his life from On Familiar Terms and wrote with great insight and humor and presented his anecdotes at a different angle. He expands on things said in his preivous book and both books read together give a complete picture of Keene. He actually said more with less. Chronicles is only 183 pages compared to Familiar Terms at 287.
In Chronicles, Keene talks about how he was "lucky enough" to even start Japanese language. He studied Japan at a time that was before WWII, the bubble economy of the 80's, and the recent otaku devotion to anime, manga, jpop, and video games. Now, many students probably come to Japanese classes because of some aspect of pop culture. Keene developed an interest in Japanese literature that would led to many excellent translations and non-fiction books on Japan. He recalls humorous dinners with such famous writers as Mishima Yukio, Abe Kobo, and he even spent time at the house of Tanizaki Junichiro.
How many scholars of Japanese Studies are that fortunate?
This is a great read about a young man who studied Japanese and eventually matured into an older man who became a gifted translator and teacher. I think more people should read memoirs like this. My regret is that few people will probably read it even though it deserves to be read.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtfully written, September 21, 2008

By 

C. Mancini - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chronicles Chronicles of My Life: An American in the Heart of Japan (Hardcover)

I read this book in two sittings, and found that in a genre often characterized by bloated, self-aggrandizing tales of Me-dom, his was extremely thoughtful and modest and, most importantly, entertaining. I recall a passage where he describes the extent to which his psyche has shifted toward that of the Japanese. It is revealed in the humility with which he tells his story, and by the omissions which anyone would have been forgiven for including (myriad honorary degrees, Japanese government awards, recognition within academic circles). He includes those only which aid the narrative, consistent with his belief that passion for the topic is more important than minutiae.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fine academic autobiography, January 3, 2010

By 

Anson Cassel Mills (Lake Santeetlah, NC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chronicles Chronicles of My Life: An American in the Heart of Japan (Hardcover)

First a disclaimer: I know nothing about Japanese literature, and I read Keene's autobiography only because I am fascinated with people who are gifted at mastering other languages, especially difficult ones. (Even some Japanese express surprise that Keene is fluent in their language.)

Keene is a lucid writer who chronicles his life with grace and modesty. As is typical with academic autobiographies, the general reader will probably find Keene's early career more interesting than his latter years when he was showered with honors for his multi-volume history of Japanese literature. For one thing, childhoods are more similar than adulthoods. My own concentration flagged as Keene detailed his connections with noted Japanese writers who were all (except for the notorious Mishima) unknown to me.

Apparently Keene's life is strictly that of a scholar who loves Western classical music, especially opera. Keene mentions no love affairs of any sort, and his political views are charmingly naïve. (His strongest quasi-political statement is the declaration, "Down with the car!") Of religion there is not a hint. In short, he has eschewed discussion of any larger philosophical questions--his right, of course, but somewhat surprising for man in his late eighties.

The book itself is a masterpiece of the bookmaker's art and includes clever drawings by Japanese artist Akira Yamaguchi (although unfortunately for readers like me--the sort who muddle through French and German--many of the captions are in Japanese). The book concludes with a helpful guide to the Japanese individuals mentioned in the text, but the book has no index.